Prank may have led to death of schoolboy

A TROUBLED schoolboy may have been playing a prank which went wrong when he was found hanged at home, an inquest heard.

The body of Ashley Banks, 14, of Coronation Road, Hoyland, near Barnsley, was found in his bedroom with a strap from his school bag around his neck attached to his bunk bed.

Assistant deputy coroner Louise Slater said: “I don’t know whether it was a prank or a little bit of an experiment that went wrong but I’m clear he didn’t intend the outcome.”

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Ashley’s father Shane, 35, told the hearing: “He could have been pratting about.”

And Det Con Matthew Gregory, who investigated the tragedy, said there was evidence the schoolboy was a prankster, particularly at school.

“He would do things spontaneously without thinking of the consequences,” he said.

The inquest was told Ashley was diagnosed with ADHD 18 months previously.

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His mother Donna Banks said her son got into trouble at primary school for what she believed was “boyish behaviour”.

She sought help from their GP but his problems continued at secondary school.

After he was moved into a class for disruptive pupils his behaviour improved but went downhill again when he moved to Horizon Community College in Barnsley.

He began smoking and playing truant and the police became involved when he stole money. But he got support from the town’s Youth Offending Team.

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Three months before his death Ashley wrote his parents a letter which said: “Dear mum and dad, I hate my own life.”

Mr Banks found his son’s body in his bedroom after going to tell him Barnsley FC had won a match.

“I can’t think of any reason why he would want to do this to himself,” his mother said.

Det Con Gregory said police concluded “bullying was not an issue” at school. The coroner said she was not satisfied that Ashley intended to take his own life. She recorded a narrative verdict.

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